inundation

[ in-uhn-dey-shuhn, -uhn- ]

noun

1. the condition of being flooded:

   Researchers are warning that accelerated sea level change threatens hundreds of thousands of coastal homes with inundation.

2. a flood:

   Areas shaded in purple on the map may see an inundation of 3 to 12 feet.

3. the condition or state of being overwhelmed:

   Angkor Wat, the magnificent temple of the Khmer Empire, faces inundation by tourists and environmental dangers.

Other Words From

• su·per·in·un·da·tion noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of inundation¹

First recorded in 1400–50; from Latin inundātiōn-, stem of inundātiō “a flooding,” from inundāre “to flood, overflow”; inundate ( def ), -ion ( def )

Example Sentences

The imagery shows the massive amount of storm surge inundation as the marshland was overrun by ocean water.

From Washington Post

It’s becoming clear, they say, that Ida’s danger extends well beyond the inundation and scattered debris caused by the Category 4 hurricane — since downgraded to a tropical storm washing over parts of Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky.

From Washington Post

Across the globe, innumerable cultural sites face storm-related flooding, erosion and inundation from rising seas.

From Washington Post

Ways of adaptingAcross the globe, innumerable cultural sites face storm-related flooding, erosion and inundation from rising seas.

From Popular-Science

With just over 234 million eligible voters, most Americans have received a handful, and those in swing states or in pivotal voting groups are getting clobbered with a total inundation.

From MIT Technology Review

Fertile fields, numerous villas and flourishing villages were overwhelmed by the inundation.

From Project Gutenberg

At one inundation that occurred about sixty years ago, eighty thousand persons were drowned.

From Project Gutenberg

The above is what has been said on the subject of winds and rains, the rising of rivers, and the inundation of plains.

From Project Gutenberg

Neither as yet was visible the threatening mass of the inundation.

From Project Gutenberg

He therefore bent all the energies of his mind and all the resources of his kingdom to arrest these fresh waves of inundation.

From Project Gutenberg